Fluid pressure operated tire and rim assembling and locking ring applying machine



Nov. 15, 1949 N. R. CLAUSER 2,488,376

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLING Filed Dec. 14, 1945 AND LOCKING RING APPLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mvwzanfi CZazzser,

Nov. 15, 1949 N. R. cLAusER 2,488,376

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLING AND LOCKING RING APPLYING MACHINE dag,

CLAUSER FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLING Nov. i5, 1949 AND LOCKING RING APPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 l l l Nov. 15, 1949 c us 2,488,376

I FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLING AND LOCKING RING APPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1945 ,4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llalll lllll Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERATED TIRE AND RIM LOCKING RING APPLY- FLUID PRESSURE OP AS SEMBLING AND ING MACHINE Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved tire press and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for assembling a vehicle tire, rim, and locking ring.

The assembly of vehicle tires on rims including the application of locking rings to maintain the tires on the rims is a large and difficult job. The job of assembling tires occurs in factories which manufacture the entire vehicle and further oc curs every time a tire on a vehicle is repaired. The device of this invention is especially adapted for assembling large truck tires but may readily be used with smaller passenger car tires.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a device which causes a wheel rim to be fixedly held. in position while a tire and locking ring is forced thereover.

An important object of this invention is the provision of means for assembling a vehicle tire and rim whether the rim be split or solid.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a tire and rim assembly device which is readily applicable to a continuous assembly line for tires and rims.

A further important object is the provision of a tire and rim assembly device which simulates a manual assembly and brings about the locked assembly of rim, tire, and locking ring without distorting the rim or the locking ring.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a tire press operated by fluid pressure throughout its various cycles.

Another and further important object is to provide a tire press operable by fluid pressure through a plurality of fluid cylinders and pistons which are actuated by manually operable valves.

Other and further important objects will become apparent from the disclosures in the following speciflcation and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the tire press device of this invention shown in its application in a continuous assembly line for tires and rims.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1 with the supporting table raised to operating position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the rim supporting table with the tire and locking ring being pressed thereon.

igure ;c is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of certain of the fluid cylinders of the tire press showing fluid supply and discharge conduits.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing another part of the fluid operable mechanisms of the tire press of this invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the tire press similar to Figure 3 showing a split rim therein.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numerals It and I0 indicate generally two pairs of vertical frame members which are welded or otherwise fastened at their lower ends on a pair of beams H at I! and l2 respectively. The L-shaped frame formed by the vertical frame members H3 and iii with the base beams ll comprises the basic support for the complete tire press of this invention. The upper ends of the vertical beams I8 and Ill support a pair of beams i3 extending in the same direction as the base beams l I. The upper horizontal beams l3 are welded or otherwise fastened to the beams l0 and Ill at l4 and M respectively, as best shown in Figure 2. This entire framework is preferably made of structural steel. However, any material strong enough may be used. The preferred form for each of the structural members Iii-w ll, and I3 is a steel I-beam. Reenforcing plates l5 and I6 are welded to the members II and I0, and Ill and I3, respectively, in order to give strength and rigidity to the basic frame structure.

As best shown in Figure 1, the tire press comprises a rim supporting table I! having a flat circular disc member 18 and a centrally positioned super structure l9 which projects upwardly from the disc l8 and is bolted thereto at 20, as best shown in Figure 2. The disc l8, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, has four downwardly depending legs 2| spaced in the form of a square so that each leg represents a corner of the square. The legs 2| in their preferred form are angle irons and slide vertically within angle frame members 22 rigidly fastened to the supporting beams H by welding or other means of attachment. Short strap members 23 are welded to the outer ends of the angle frame members 22 at 24 and positively guide the depending table legs 2i within the frame members 22. Reenforcing frame members 25 are welded between the frame members 22 at 26 and thus tend to stabilize and maintain vertical the angle frame members 22. The rim supporting disc [8 rests on top of the frame members 22 and thus further downward movement of the table member ii is prohibited. A cylinder 27 operated by fluid such as air is mounted on a frame member 28 welded. to the "member 18 at 43. with'ai' piston 44 having ao'ross'head 55, The blocks 4I'opposite the piston cross head t-i' are base beams i I at 29. The cylinder 2? is positioned centrally beneath the disc at and has an upwardly projecting piston 38 adapted to extend upwardly where it is welded to the under side ofthedisc l8at3l.

The device as shown forms part of an assembly line and is positioned within a conveyer 32. This conveyencoiisists of 'a plurality of transversely disposed spaced ro1lers3'3 mountedb'etwe'en and journaled within side frame members 3 3. The frame members 34 extending horizontally and transversely of the tire pressiassh' wn ii'i Figure 1 of the drawings. The conveyor irsaie niss1=- bers 34 are supported by leg members 35 spaced intermittently along the length thereof supporting table 51 is positioned be spaced frame members 3 r'dlit -th1s'=po1-ii tthe wide rollers 33 have been eliminated and r placed with transversely disposed laterallyspac'ed a w rol e 35 which-We g al m mar pins 7 31 iilo'sely adja centfeach irame 3?. The spacednarrow rollers rem a 'oentra 9 T'n i' f n h re r n r- S. v Fig'iir'e ljt he table I? and tssuperfstruct ateb eneath the upper surfacebf 'th'euolle andS'B' when the table is in its lowermost pos Admission of fl'uidin this case air under'pi s e, tothe Cylinder 2? causesja'n upwardfmove ent episto'n'filand also'the empress tab ll th ugn' the central space between the narrow Vehicle iwheei rims aremovedalon the 32 jo'njthe rollers' 't'iand "35 until m lyiabove the supporting tablef'lilfat when'the table iis" in its lowest positi n. duentlifting ofthetable'jllby actu f cylind'er and piston rena 3E3Qoaues the V as t o encircle the super structure $9.. Ashen sho 'nf'fn Figure 3 thedi's'c"IBHSIprOvideKjl l l is ed for otherwise fastenedto. the surf dlylextending lugs t (3T8 atom intervalsl'aboutthe dis heisie l'ugs 39fare' adapted to 'receiveishankpor 611 522 porting blocks l l The rimblo ksfl estate 'sii'griuy l ihe w seli j fixed position Inasmuch astl e tire press of his ink/"sheen "is adapted to diier'ite' i emju V. w th many sizes f. tires an ims i is nss se ally outwardly a L i t e. inner d amete 7 are". adj ustahly locked I in l t'o beable toreadily extend or retract therim s rli mebid fe sizes of r ms. When it is desired to assemble a tire on a smaller rim, the set screws Eli are loosened, the blocks and their shanks; are inoved i g A cylinder 621's positioned horizontallywithin the super structure 19 and is bolted to the disc The cylinder 52 is equipped additionally identifiedbylettrs Xand Y. Each of-the blocks 4 9X and MY is equipped with abutment or stop members E 3i! and l 3! wemed-respw 'tii ely at" [32 and 33 to the tops thereof as shown s which are 'sliown in Figure 8. In such case the rim 38 is spread byiextension of the piston 44.

.Theidiarnete'r of the disc I 8, as shown in Figure 2, is suiii'ci'eritly small so that it may be extended upwardly between the short rollers 38 of the convey'r After the rim is firmly held on the rimbloels li by the piston cross head 45, a tire 46 of corresponding size is placed over the rim 38 aiid'asplit locking ring 4? is placed on the tire and substantially centeredwith respect to the tire'and therim. l'f-The rim 3 8 asy'b'tshowh in section in Figure ism-s e 'a sh'ap 't the lower annular edge '43 st 'nds suiiiciently wardly to prevent the tire frorn paljssing therebeneath. The upperiedgef l does not'iov'erhang, and hence thetire' liimay befput on fromthe top a d es edarms fia f e new 51 :W r 1 i hindrance e upper ed e 4 i' fi rot d with an annular groovejii l' whichisj ada ptefdft receive' one annularedgeffi'z of"the splitflocking ring ll. The curved portion :53 of thefsplit ring ffi'l rests in an annular depression 54 fin "the {Upper side wall of the 'tire l'ficlos'ely adjacent theinn'er circumference of thetijre I ,7 M

The pair of upper beam members lii "asj'sh'own in Figures 1 and Z'form'the 'suppojrtfforitwo pairs of cylinders 55 andEET Thepair offcylinders 5 includin individual ylii deis st and? 55 [are joined by a cross member 57;; and likw'isethe pairof cylinders '56including'individual"cylinders fit 'and 56 are joined by a simi1arcross'm'ember 58. Thetop sides of thefylinder'sare "fixedly attached to' the 'oro'sshne'mbers 51 and'ifi, "Angle brackets 59 are bolted to the cross ineinber' til at so as shown in Figures, Theja'rigle member 59 are b ood 'with inwardly turned flanges 1 6| which hang onthe lower outside'lip's 62 'of'the I- teams is and which may 'vbe slidably adjusted therealong. The angle r'nerribers '59 'lia've weldd at one end thereof an upwardly extendin'g ear'63 whic'hfasbest shown in Figure-"2, hasa threaded bolt stub 64 fix'e'dfto one-side th'ereor. A-Iugj'tt is welded tothe lower lip "62 of the I beams'lii at 66. jWiththeaid of nuts "fi ll engaging the threaded bolt stud 64 on the opposite'side offthe fixedlug 65,"th e cylinders 55 maybe slidably moved along the I-beam ledge fi z to and from the fixed lug,6 5. The cross member 58-carrying the cylinders 56 is equipped with similar elements to enable 'it to be, slidably adjusted along the-lower lip 62 of theI-beams l3, Angle members tffl are bolted to the ends of the cross member j 58 at 69 and are equipped with inwardly turned flanges 'mwhich ride-along the ledge 620i the I-beam. Ears 'H are, welded-to one-end of the angle member 68 and have bolt*studs 'l-Z-fixedly attached thereto; and "extending in a 1 horizontal direction. Lugs 13 corresponding-to lugs *are welded to the ledge 62 of th'e"I-b'eams 'l-*s at id. The belt studs 12 "are "adapted'to' pass through an aperture in the lugs 13' suffioi'ently'large'to permit 'ready passage of "the stud 12 but "small enough to prevent passage of adiusting' 'nuts 1-5. The cylinders'56 are therefore 'inovable as a pair to and from the fixed lugs 13 depending upon movement of the lock nuts '15 along the threaded bolt stud 12.

The pairs of cylinders 55 and 56 are equipped with downwardly projecting extensible pairs of pistons 15 and H respectively. The pair of pistons 16 includes individual pistons 16* and 16 whereas the pair of pistons 11 includes individual pistons ll and 11 The lower ends of the pairs of pistons '56 and l! have welded thereto crossor T-heads T8 and 19, respectively, designated individually as 18 and 18 and 79 and 79*. These cylinders and 56 are actuated by a fluid under pressure such as air in the same manner that the cylinders 21 and 42 were operated. However, all four cylinders 55 and 56 are not operated in unison but rather are operated singly in rotation. As best shown in Figure 4, the T-head 78 of the piston '|6 engages the curved portion 53 of the split locking ring Ill upon extension of the piston l6 downwardly from the cylinder 55 The piston 76* projects downwardly suficiently to cause the annular edge 52 of the split locking ring 41 to engage the annular groove. The split locking ring 4? is made of a spring steel so that it normally has a diameter less than the inner diameter of the rim S8, and hence when the T-heads l8 and i9 of the cylinders 55 and 56 push downwardly on the lockin ring il within the rim 38, the ring automatically springs inwardly when it reaches the annular notch 5| thereby preventing withdrawal of the locking ring and thus also preventing withdrawal of the tire 46. Action by all four T-heads l8 and i9 concurrentl would cause the spring steel split locking ring 4'! to take a new setting because of its total distortion all at one time. In other words, if the locking ring 41 were pushed inwardly from all sides simultaneously, it would lose the spring that is used to cause it to look within the annular rim notch 5|. Therefore, the cylinders 55 and 56 are operated separately and successively in rotational order about the periphery of the split ring to be applied to the rim 39. The distortion of merely a portion of the split ring ll does not cause it to take a new set. Further the application of a downward force to the T-heads 18 19 19 and then 18*, in that order, simulates hand assembly of the split looking ring on the rim 38.

As shown in Figure 2, a positive lockin mechanism is provided for the table when it reaches its uppermost position. This locking mechanism is indicated by the numeral 80. An arm 8| is pivoted at 32 on a frame member 83 fixedly attached to a side tie member 84 extending between the legs 22 in the same manner as the tie members 2c. The frame member 83 is thus a part of the fixed frame structure of the tire press of this invention. One end of the arm 8| has pivoted thereto an arm 85 which is attached to a tie member 66 adapted to cause outward movement of one locking pin 87. On the other side of the pivot 32 is an arm 88 pivoted to the arm 8| in the same manner as the arm but extending in the opposite direction. Again a tie member 89 similar to the tie member 86 causes a locking pin 99 to be moved into and out of locking position. The locking pins 81 and 96 project within sleeves 9| and 92 which are welded at 93 and 94 respectively to the legs 22. As shown in Figure 1, the legs 22 are provided with holes 95 to permit passage of the locking pins 81 and 90 when they are moved to a fully extended position through the sleeves 9| and 92. A pair of cylinders 96 including individual cylinders 96 and 96 are fixedly mounted to the leg members 22 and have pistons 9? projectin outwardly therefrom to en age an extension of the arm 8| at 98. When fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 96, the piston 9'! is withdrawn into the cylinder thus causing the locking arms to be extended outwardly through the apertures in the legs 22. The admission of fluid under pressure to this cylinder 96 occurs after the supporting table H has been raised by the extension of the piston 39 from the cylinder 21, at which time the depending legs 2! of the supporting table H are raised to a position just above the apertures 95 in the legs 22, as best shown in Figure 2, thus permitting the locking pins ill and 9% to project into the space formerly occupied by the supporting table legs 2|. In this manner the split looking ring may be forced onto the rim 38 when the supporting table H is in a substantially rigid position. The cylinders 55 and 55 are therefore not acting against the cylinder 21, but rather the locking pins 37 and 96 hold the work table il in its upper or tire pressing position.

Fluid under pressure is piped to a pair of valves 99 and 583 located at the base of the tire press and on each side thereof. Each of these valves 99 and 855 has a foot pedal operating lever Hit and it? respectively. The valve 99 is adapted to direct fluid under pressure to the pairs of cylinders 55 and As shown in Figure 2, a conduit i 93 joins the valve 99 with the upper ends of the cylinders 55 and 55. As best shown in Figure 6, the fluid passing up through the conduit 563 is piped in series to the four cylinders 55 56 55 and then 55' in that order so that the pistons projecting downwardly from each of these cylinders will be extended in that rotational order. The mere fact that the cylinders are piped in series is not of itself sufficient to cause the pistons to fully actuate in successive rotational order. However, there is a slight tendency for the one receiving the fluid first to operate slightly prior to the cylinders successively receiving the fluid under pressure. It will be noted that between cylinders 55* and 55 a conduit |9 l carrying the fluid under pressure to the tops of these cylinders has a restriction 35 which considerably retards the passage of fluid under pressure to the cylinder 56 and thus also the cylinder 55 The cylinders 55 and 56* have their pistons 55* and Ti extended almost simultaneously with the piston te coming down slightly prior to the cylinder ll However, the cylinders 56* and 55 are actuated after a time lapse between the operation of the cylinders 55 and 56 and they operate in the order of their connection in the series line in the same manner as the cylinders 55* and 55* with the cylinder 56 operating slightly in advance ofthe cylinder 55 The conduits are sufficiently flexible to permit adjustment of the cylinders 55 and 56 for accommodatin various sizes of tires.

Depression of the valve pedal |9| causes the valve 89 to direct fluid through the conduit Hi3 to the top of the pairs of cylinders 55 and 56. A releasing or permitting of the pedal |6| to raise causes fluid under pressure to be directed through a conduit we to the lower end of the pairs of cylinders 55 and 56. The conduit I96 carries fluid under pressure to the cylinders '55 and 56 in series and'in the same rotational order in which the fluid is fed to the tops of these cylinders. In

p other words, fluid is admitted to the bottom of cylinders 55 first and cylinder 56 second, thence to the cylinder 56* and then cylinder 55*. An exhaust outlet I68 forms part of the valve 99 and permits fluid within the cylinders 55 and 56 to be exhausted therethrough. When the pedal I0! is pushed downwardly, the pistons for the cylinders '55 and are extended downwardly thus forcing fluid within these cylinders out through the conduit I66 back through the valve 99 and out through the discharge port I88. Conversely, when the pedal IBI is raised, the cylinder pistons are raised in rotational order and the fluid from the several cylinders is discharged from the tops of the cylinders 55 and 56 through the conduit I03 back through the valve 99 and through the exhaust port 568, Extending the pistons I6 and I! in the order indicated is conducive to eflective tire and rim assembly.

The valve Hi9, as best shown in Figures 1 and 7, having the foot operated pedal I62 directs fluid under pressure to the cylinder 21. Conduits i0! and we join the valve I60 with the lower portion of the cylinder 2'1, and a depression of the pedal I02 causes fluid under pressure to be forced through the conduit I61 around the by-passing conduit I99 and through the swing check valve I 69 back to the conduit H3! to the cylinder 21 thus causing the piston 30 with the table I! to rise. Simultaneously the fluid under pressure is carried through a conduit I It to the forward ends of the cylinders 86* and 95 However, the pistons 9 5 and 91 are not actuated until such time as the table piston 30 has reached its uppermost position, because exhaust conduit H9 for the cylinders 96 and 66 is provided with a pressure relief valve 1 26 through which the fluid must pass to return through a conduit I2I to the valve 566 and out the exhaust port III. A ball checkvalve I22 prevents by-passing of exhausted fluid upwardly through a conduit I23 for return to the conduit I21. The relief valve I26 is adjusted to open when the table H has reached its upper or tire assembly position. The retraction of the pistons 97 and 91* within the cylinders 95* and 96*, respectively, causes an extension of the locking pins 8'! and 9d and a fixed locking of the table in an up position. A release of valve pedal I02 causes fluid under pressure to be applied to conduit, l2! where it immediately travels up conduit I 23 and down through the check-valve I22 to the rear ends of the cylinders 95* and 95 and to the top side of table cylinder 21 through a conduit H8. Fluid is exhausted from the forward ends of the cylinders 96* and 96 through the conduit H8 back to the valve I66 where it is discharged through the port III. As a result the locking pins 87 and 90 are withdrawn from table leg. locking position at which time the table I! may be lowered. In order that the table will not be forced downwardly during the time of removal of the locking pins another pressure relief valve I24 is provided in the conduit ifi'I. Fluid within the cylinder 2?! exhausts through the downwardly extending conduit It! by reason of fluid being applied to the top of the cylinder thus causing a lowering of the table I1. The fluid is prevented from Icy-passing the relief valve 524 by the checkvalve 39 As in the case of the relief valve I20 the valve I24 is adjusted to open after the cylinders St and 95 have been fully actuated.

A hand-operated valve H2 is positioned at the topof the tire press device and is fixed t0 the I- bea-m It as shown in Figure 1. This valve H2 is suppliedfwith fluid under pressure in the same 8 manner as the valves 99 and I00 through a conduit 425 and is adapted to operate the rim holding and spreading cylinder 42. A conduit H3 leads from the valve H2 to the rear end' of the cylinder 42, and upon pulling down the valve operating handle I I4, fluid under pressure is'passed through the conduit II3 to the cylinder 42 whereupon the piston and T-he'ad 45 are extended causing firm gripping of a solid rim and spreading of a split rim, such as will be explained hereinafter. The valve H2 is supplied with an exhaust port H5 and" an additional conduit II6 which leads to the forward end of the cylinder 32. Each of the cylinders employed in this de vice is double actingthat is, each is power extended in both directions.

Often times it is desired to use a split rim instead of a solid rim such as has been shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing. A split rim 38' is shown in Figure 8 and is positioned on the blocks E! on the table I]. The hand-operated valve H2 is "actuated and the T-headed piston 45 of the cylinder 42 is extended thus forcing the split rim outwardly to its full circumference so that the ends I26 and I21 thereof meet without overlapping. In assembling a tire I28 and a solid locking ring I29 on a split rim, the tire and ring are dropped over the split rim 38 prior to the rim being spread outwardly. The cylinder s2 is then actuated by the hand valve II2 thus spreading the rim and causing the tire and solid ring to be locked in position. on the rim. Use of the pairs of cylinders 55 and 56 is optional when assembling a split rim unit 38*. If used the T- headed pistons I8 assist in holding the solid ring in a downward tire-engaging position during spreading of the split rim 38 Similarly in assembling a solid rim unit the use of the cylinder 4-2 is optional inasmuch as the rim need not be spread but rather only held securely. It is desirable to employ the cylinder 42 to hold the solid rim in stationary position during tire press operation.

In the operation of this tire press the rims are moved along the conveyer 32 on the rollers 33' until they reach a position over the rollers 36 directly above the supporting table IT. The tire 46 is then placed over the. rim 38 and a split locking ring is placed in the upper annular depression 54 of the tire 46, whereupon the attendantdepresses the foot'pedal I02 of the'valve I00 which immediately causes the piston 30 of the cylinder 21 to be raised carrying with it the supporting table I'I. As previously describedlinv conjunction with Figure 3, the rim flange 48 encircles the blocks M and the rim is immedi ately held infixed position by an extension of the piston 44 of the cylinder 42. cylinders 55 and 56'then become actuated in-- dividually in successive rotation about the tire as shown in Figure 3 by depressionof the valve pedal I OI of the valve I60. by admission of fluid under pressure to their respective cylinders 55 and cause the annular flange 52 of the splitlocldng. ring 41 to be deposited in the annular groove 5| in the rim 38 in small increments until the entire ring is locked within the rim. Previousto the actuation of the cylinders 55 and 56 the cylinders 96 are actuated just as soon. as the piston 30 of the cylinder 21 has been fully extended; thus positively causing locking of the supporting table I I in its raised operative position. Upon the completion of'the tire press operation, the attendant first releases his foot'from the valve pedal The pair of" The T'-heads come down lnl at which time the fluid under pressure is withdrawn from the cylinders 55 and 56 and secondly releases his other foot from the valve pedal I 02 causing an unlocking of the mechanism 85 by reverse movement of the pistons 9'! of the cylinders 96. The supporting table I1 is then dropped downwardly whereupon the rim is released by actuation of the valve hand lever H4 causing a withdrawal of the cross-head 45 into the cylinder 42 leaving the assembled rim tire and locking ring on the conveyer 32 where it may be moved along on the rollers 33 and 36.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tire press comprising a supporting framework, a vertically movable table associated with said supporting framework, said table adapted to receive an unassembled rim, tire, and locking ring, downwardly movable members positioned above said table and associated with said supporting framework adapted to press said locking ring, tire, and rim into assembled relationship, fluid cylinder means for moving said table upwardly, fluid cylinder means for moving said members above said table, fluid cylinder means fixed to said supporting framework for effecting locking of the table in a raised position including locking pins movable outwardly by said fluid cylinder means to a supporting position beneath the table, and valve and conduit means arranged to successively raise said table and to extend said locking pins and to successively retract said locking pins and lower said table.

2. In a tire press for assembling a rim, tire and locking ring, comprising a frame structure, a table at a height level adapted to receive a vehicle rim from a conveyor, means for locking said rim in rigid position on said table, said table having depending legs adjacent fixed legs of the frame structure, a fluid operated cylinder and piston adapted to raise said table above the height of the conveyor and cause said table legs to slide with respect to said frame structure legs, locking pins supported on said frame structure and having a fluid operated cylinder for causing their outward extension to a position beneath the depending table legs when the table and legs are in their uppermost position, and means for assembling said rim, tire, and locking ring when the table is so locked in raised position.

3. In a tire and rim mounting apparatus in eluding a conveyor having a fixed frame, a plurality of transversely disposed wide rollers journally carried in said fixed frame, said rollers being of a width to carry a vehicle rim, and a plurality of transversely disposed laterally spaced narrow rollers in alignment with the wide rollers for a continuation thereof, said spaced narrow -rollers forming a central space therebetween, a

vertically movable mounting table normally disposed beneath said conveyor at the point of the central space, means moving said table upwardly through the central space of said conveyor, said mounting table adapted to support a rim received from said conveyor for the purpose of mounting a tire thereon.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided for locking the table in its upwardly moved position, and means above said table for forcing said tire and a locking ring onto said rim to effect an interlock of the tire and rim.

5; In a tire and rim mounting apparatus including a conveyor for removing mounted tires and rims, said conveyor having a fixed frame, a plurality of transversely disposed wide rollers journally carried in said fixed frame, said rollers being of a width to carry a vehicle tire and rim, and a plurality of transversely disposed laterally spaced narrow rollers in alignment with and, preceding the Wide rollers, said spaced narrow rollers forming a central space therebetween, a vertically movable mounting table normally disposed beneath said conveyor at the point of the central space, means moving said table upwardly through the central space of said conveyor, said mounting table adapted to support the vehicle rim for the purpose of mounting a tire thereon, and means lowering said mounting table beneath the conveyor whereby the mounted tire and rim are transported away on said conveyor.

NORMAN R. CLAUSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,352,722 Caldwell Sept. 14, 1920 1,402,471 Beck Jan. 3, 1922 1,667,351 Levitt Apr. 24, 1928 1,850,053 Stevens Mar. 15, 1932 1,994,974 Wiedmann Mar. 19, 1935 2,034,819 Maulis Mar. 24, 1936 2,345,346 Larson Mar. 28, 1944 2,353,187 Rerick et a1. July 11, 1944 2,375,956 Smith et al May 15, 1945 2,213,535 Seip Sept. 3, 1945 

